Orientation

D.HAMMOUDI, MD

ANATOMICOMEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

• Anatomical terms are descriptive terms standardized in an international reference guide, Terminologia Anatomica (TA).

• These terms, in English or Latin, are used worldwide.

• ♦Colloquial terminology is used by—and to communicatewith—lay people.

• ♦ Eponyms are often used in clinical settings but are not recommended because they do not

provide anatomical context and are not standardized.

• ♦ Anatomical directional terms are based on the body in the anatomical position.

• ♦ Four anatomical planes divide the body, and sections divide the planes into visually useful

• and descriptive parts.

• ♦ Other anatomical terms describe relationships of parts of the body, compare the positions of

structures, and describe laterality and movement.

Anatomical Position

• Body erect, feet slightly apart, palms facing forward, thumbs point away from body

Figure 1.7a

Directional Terms

• Superior and inferior – toward and away from the head, respectively

• Anterior and posterior – toward the front and back of the body

• Medial, lateral, and intermediate – toward the midline, away from the midline, and between a more medial and lateral structure

• Paired structures having right and left members (e.g., the kidneys)are bilateral, whereas those occurring

on one side only (e.g., the spleen) are unilateral.

• Designating whether you are referring specifically to the right or left member of bilateral structures can

be critical, and is a good habit to begin at the outset of one’s training to become a health professional.

• Something occurring on the same side of the body as another structure is ipsilateral; the right thumb and

right great (big) toe are ipsilateral, for example.

• Contralateral means occurring on the opposite side of the body relative to another structure;

• the right hand is contralateral to the left hand.

Directional

Terms• Proximal and distal – closer to

and farther from the origin of the body part

• Superficial and deep – toward and away from the body surface

Directional Terms

Table 1.1a

Directional Terms

Table 1.1b

Regional Terms:

Anterior View

Figure 1.7a

Nasal (nose)

Oral (mouth)

Cervical (neck)

Frontal (forehead)

Orbital (eye)

Buccal (cheek)

Mental (chin)

(a) Anterior

Regional

Terms:

Anterior View

Figure 1.7a

Nasal (nose)

Oral (mouth)

Cervical (neck)

Acromial

(point of shoulder)

Axillary (armpit)

Brachial (arm)

Antecubital

(front of elbow)

Abdominal

(abdomen)

Pelvic (pelvis)

Antebrachial

(forearm)

Carpal (wrist)

Palmar

(palm)

Pollex

(thumb)

Digital

(fingers)

Mammary

(breast)

Frontal (forehead)

Orbital (eye)

Buccal (cheek)

Sternal

(breastbone)

Thoracic

(chest)

Mental (chin)

Umbilical

(navel)

(a) Anterior

Regional

Terms:

Anterior

View

Figure 1.7a

Nasal (nose)

Oral (mouth)

Cervical (neck)

Acromial

(point of shoulder)

Axillary (armpit)

Brachial (arm)

Antecubital

(front of elbow)

Abdominal

(abdomen)

Pelvic (pelvis)

Antebrachial

(forearm)

Carpal (wrist)

Palmar

(palm)

Pollex

(thumb)

Digital

(fingers)

Pubic (genital region)

Patellar

(anterior knee)

Crural (leg)

Tarsal (ankle)Pedal

(foot) Digital (toes)

Inguinal

(groin)

Coxal

(hip)

Femoral

(thigh)

Fibular, or

peroneal

(side of leg)

Hallux (great toe)

Mammary

(breast)

Frontal (forehead)

Orbital (eye)

Buccal (cheek)

Sternal

(breastbone)

Thoracic

(chest)

Mental (chin)

Umbilical

(navel)

(a) Anterior

Regional Terms: Posterior View

Figure 1.7b

Otic (ear)

Occipital (back of

head or base of skull)

Cephalic

(head)

(b) Posterior

Regional Terms: Posterior View

Figure 1.7b

Brachial (arm)

Otic (ear)

Occipital (back of

head or base of skull)

Acromial

(point of shoulder)

Vertebral

(spinal column)

Scapular

(shoulder blade)

Dorsum or dorsal

(back)

Olecranal

(back of elbow)

Lumbar (loin)

Sacral

(between hips)Manus

(hand)

Upper

extremity

Cephalic

(head)

(b) Posterior

Regional Terms: Posterior View

Figure 1.7b

Brachial (arm)

Otic (ear)

Occipital (back of

head or base of skull)

Acromial

(point of shoulder)

Vertebral

(spinal column)

Scapular

(shoulder blade)

Dorsum or dorsal

(back)

Olecranal

(back of elbow)

Lumbar (loin)

Sacral

(between hips)

Gluteal (buttock)

Perineal

(region between

the anus and

external genitalia)

Femoral (thigh)

Popliteal

(back of knee)

Sural (calf)

Calcaneal (heel)

Plantar (sole)

Manus

(hand)

Upper

extremity

Cephalic

(head)

Lower

extremity

(b) Posterior

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Figure 1.7 Regional terms used to designate specific body areas.

CervicalCervical

Back (dorsal)

(a) Anterior/Ventral (b) Posterior/Dorsal

Pubic (genital)

Cephalic

FrontalOrbitalNasalOralMental

Thoracic

SternalAxillaryMammary

Scapular

Vertebral

Lumbar

Sacral

Gluteal

Perineal (betweenanus and externalgenitalia)

Abdominal

Umbilical

PelvicInguinal(groin)

Upper limb

AcromialBrachial (arm)AntecubitalOlecranalAntebrachial(forearm)

Carpal (wrist)

Manus (hand)

PollexMetacarpalPalmarDigital

Lower limb

Coxal (hip)Femoral (thigh)PatellarPoplitealCrural (leg)Sural (calf)Fibular or peroneal

Pedal (foot)

Tarsal (ankle)CalcanealMetatarsalDigitalPlantarHallux

Cephalic

OticOccipital (backof head)

Thorax

Abdomen

Back (Dorsum)

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Figure 1.7a Regional terms used to designate specific body areas.

Cervical

(a) Anterior/Ventral

Pubic

(genital)

CephalicFrontalOrbitalNasalOralMental

Thoracic

AxillaryMammarySternal

AbdominalUmbilical

PelvicInguinal

(groin)

Upper limbAcromialBrachial (arm)AntecubitalAntebrachial(forearm)Carpal (wrist)

Manus (hand)PalmarPollexDigital

Lower limbCoxal (hip)Femoral (thigh)PatellarCrural (leg)Fibular or peroneal

Pedal (foot)Tarsal (ankle)MetatarsalDigitalHallux

Thorax

Abdomen

Back (Dorsum)

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

Figure 1.7b Regional terms used to designate specific body areas.

Cervical

Back (dorsal)

(b) Posterior/Dorsal

Scapular

Vertebral

LumbarSacral

Gluteal

Perineal (between

anus and external

genitalia)

Upper limb

AcromialBrachial (arm)OlecranalAntebrachial

(forearm)Manus (hand)

MetacarpalDigitalLower limb

Femoral (thigh)PoplitealSural (calf)Fibular or peroneal

Pedal (foot)

CalcanealPlantar

Cephalic

OticOccipital (back

of head)

ThoraxAbdomenBack (Dorsum)

Body Planes

• Sagittal – divides the body into right and left parts

• Midsagittal or medial – sagittal plane that lies on the midline

• Frontal or coronal – divides the body into anterior and posterior parts

• Transverse or horizontal (cross section) –divides the body into superior and inferior parts

• Oblique section – cuts made diagonally

Body Planes

Figure 1.8

Body Cavities

• Dorsal cavity protects the nervous system, and is divided into two subdivisions

• Cranial cavity – within the skull; encases the brain

• Vertebral cavity – runs within the vertebral column; encases the spinal cord

• Ventral cavity houses the internal organs (viscera), and is divided into two subdivisions

• Thoracic

• Abdominopelvic

Body Cavities

Figure 1.9a

Cranial cavity

(contains brain)

Dorsal

body

cavity

Diaphragm

Abdominal cavity

(contains digestive

viscera)

Pelvic cavity

(contains bladder,

reproductive organs,

and rectum)

Vertebral cavity

(contains spinal

cord)

Key:

Dorsal body cavity

Ventral body cavity

Thoracic

cavity

(contains

heart

and lungs)

(a) Lateral view

Body Cavities

Figure 1.9b

Ventral

body cavity

(thoracic

and

abdomino-

pelvic

cavities)

Abdomino-

pelvic

cavity

Superior

mediastinum

Pleural

cavity

Cranial

cavity

Vertebral

cavity

Pericardial

cavity within

the mediastinum

Diaphragm

Abdominal cavity

(contains digestive

viscera)

Pelvic cavity

(contains bladder,

reproductive organs,

and rectum)

Thoracic

cavity

(contains

heart

and lungs)

(b) Anterior view

Key:

Dorsal body cavity

Ventral body cavity

Body Cavities• Thoracic cavity is subdivided into two pleural cavities, the mediastinum, and the pericardial cavity

• Pleural cavities – each houses a lung

• Mediastinum – contains the pericardial cavity; surrounds the remaining thoracic organs

• Pericardial cavity – encloses the heart

• The abdominopelvic cavity is separated from the superior thoracic cavity by the dome-shaped diaphragm

• It is composed of two subdivisions

• Abdominal cavity – contains the stomach, intestines, spleen, liver, and other organs

• Pelvic cavity – lies within the pelvis and contains the bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum

Ventral Body Cavity Membranes

• Parietal serosa lines internal body walls

• Visceral serosa covers the internal organs

• Serous fluid separates the serosae

Body Cavities� Thoracic cavity is subdivided into two pleural cavities, the

mediastinum, and the pericardial cavity

� Pleural cavities – each houses a lung

� Mediastinum – contains the pericardial cavity; surrounds the remaining thoracic organs

� Pericardial cavity – encloses the heart

Mediastinum� It contains

1. the heart,

2. the great vessels of the heart,

3. the esophagus,4. the trachea,

5. the phrenic nerve,

6. the cardiac nerve,

7. the thoracic duct,

8. the thymus,

9. the lymph nodes of the central chest.

Serous Membrane Relationship

Figure 1.10a

Heart Serosae

Figure 1.10b

Other Body Cavities

• Oral and digestive – mouth and cavities of the digestive organs

• Nasal –located within and posterior to the nose

• Orbital – house the eyes

• Middle ear – contains bones (ossicles) that transmit sound vibrations

• Synovial – joint cavities

Other Body Cavities

Figure 1.13